Jefferson City, Missouri - MaKayla Waldner's name is synonymous with athleticism earning her four State Championship Medals at the MSHSAA Class 3 Track and Field Competitions on Saturday. Waldner who just completed her junior year at Dexter High School will be back that's a guarantee for next year.

Waldner took first place in the 300m hurdles winning by nearly a full second.  Her time 42.89.

She finished second in the 100m hurdles at 15.44.  Constance Jackson of North Technical won in 15.25.

She finished second in the 200 just .72 of a second from the winner.  Her time 25.92.

She jumped for 5th place in the long jump at 16 feet, 11.5 inches on her final attempt. This was a sport she did not spend much time practicing as she felt she was more of a runner.

Waldner is not new to the scene at state level competitions.  She earned two medals in 2014 in the 100m and 300m hurdles.

Her brother, Trevor Waldner,sent her a text right after the 100m hurdles and told her, “I didn’t know we celebrated 2^nd place as a family and she better win the 300m hurdles.”  What brotherly love!!  That really put things into perspective for Waldner and she wanted the win.

When asked of  MaKayla about her wins over the weekend, "It feels amazing to know that all my hard work as finally paid off.  The countless hours I have spent training and preparing for the State Meet really paid off for me.  I couldn't thank my mom or coaches enough for it."

"I went into this season with my own goals," continued MaKayla, "And I tackled them every step. I wanted a state championship and I got that. I've just realized if I set out to have a goal nothing is going to stop me except for the excuses I find."

This is Kim Waldner's first year as the head Track and Field Coach for Dexter High School.  She just so happens to be MaKayla's mom as well.  She is both proud as a coach and as a parent!

“I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend for her,” stated head track coach and mother, Kim Waldner.  “We were both disappointed in her long jump performance, but she said ‘oh well maybe next year. I should practice that event.”

“Kevin Ellis her AAU coach told her that she wouldn’t run a 42 in hurdles because the track was wet and rainy,” continued Coach Waldner.  “She wanted it and went out and got it!”

She single-handedly gave the Dexter Bearcats Track and Field Team a score of 30 points to put the team in sixth place, missing out on a team trophy by just 1 point. 

"We didn't realize how close she was to a team trophy," continued Coach Waldner.  "I think next year she will go after one."

Way to go MaKayla!  The Dexter community is extremely proud of your accomplishments!

Essex, Missouri - Richland High School Clay Shoot Team recently competed against the Dexter Police Department at a competition at the Dexter Shooting Range.

The Richland students participated in the Spring Break ’Em Tournament on April 11^th at the Poplar Bluff Gun Club.  This was the second meet that the Rebels had competed in and interest in the program is so large that they had to split the team into A and B squads for the tournament.

“I am very proud of this team,” stated head coach Jarrot Basler.  “We have learned and grown vastly together since our first practice in September.  With us having all freshmen and sophomore athletes this year will be bringing an even more competitive team for the 2015-2016 school year.”

Josh Shidler finished second overall out of 66 participants while shooting in the Spring Break ’Em Tournament.  It was only the second time Shidler had ever competed in a competition.

“Josh picked up a shotgun for the first time in September at our first practice,” said Basler.  “He was at the middle to low end of the squad at first.  He improved his form and set the goal of being the top shot.  Through hard work and determination he saw his goal come to fruition.”

Shown in the photo are front row from left to right: Ben Pearce, Josh Shidler, Megan Cullum, Garet Phillips, and Lane Brown.  Back row from left to right are Clayton Harriel, Gerlynn Grossius, Josh Boyet, Shawn Knox, and Luke Rhodes.

Dexter, Missouri - For those of you who are missing basketball season, you will be in for a very special treat as the Rib city Shootout returns this summer.  Beginning Friday, May 29^th the middle school and junior high girls basketball teams will take the court at the Bearcat Event Center.

This is the 6^th year for the Shootout in Dexter and it is now the premier summer event for basketball teams in the region.  According to Chad Allen, Dexter High School Lady Cats basketball coach more than 350 teams are expected to compete this summer from at least 5 different states. 

The Rib City Shootout was developed in 2010 to provide athletes a setting in which to compete and improve their skills during the off-season.  It is an inexpensive way for middle school athletes to experience a beneficial developmental opportunity.

Go to their website www.ribcityshootout.com to learn more about these awesome events or contact Chad Allen at ribcityshootout@gmail.com or give him a call (573) 421-4571.

Below is the schedule for the 2015 middle school/junior high girls basketball shootout slated for Friday, May 29^th at the Bearcat Event Center.  Three courts will be available and each is designated as a 1, 2, or 3 depending on which court they are assigned.

9:00 a.m.

Kennett 8^th vs Puxico MS (EC1)

Mayhem vs New Madrid (EC2)

Perryville vs Meadow Heights (EC3)

9:45 a.m.

Dexter vs Puxico (EC2)

10:30 a.m.

Dexter 7^th/8^th vs Kennett 8^th (EC1)

New Madrid vs Perryville (EC2)

Dyer County vs Mayhem (EC3)

11:15 a.m.

South Pemiscot MS vs Poplar Bluff 7^th (EC1)

Dexter (A) vs Hoxie, AR (EC2)

Northview, Tn Jr. High Puxico MS (EC3)

12:00 noon

Crystal city vs Dexter (B) (EC1)

Murphysboro vs New Madrid (EC2)

Puxico vs Meadow Heights (EC3)

12:45 p.m.

Kennett vs Perryville (EC1)

Dyer County vs Dexter (A) EC2)

Puxico MS vs Poplar Bluff MS (EC3)

1:30 p.m.

Hoxie, AR vs New Madrid (EC1)

Poplar Bluff 8^th vs Northview, Tn Jr. High (EC2)

2:15 p.m.

Crystal City vs Meadow Heights (EC1)

Dexter (A) vs Murphysboro, IL (EC2)

Dyer County vs Kennett (EC3)

3:00 p.m.

Poplar Bluff 8^th vs Kennett 8^th (EC1)

Dexter 7^th/8^th vs Poplar Bluff 7^th (EC2)

Puxico MS vs South Pemiscot MS (EC3)

3:45 p.m.

Crystal City vs Puxico (EC1)

Kennett vs Murphysboro (EC2)

Dyer County vs Hoxie (EC3)

4:30 p.m.

Dexter (B) vs Perryville (EC1)

Dexter (A) vs Mayhem (EC2)

Northview, TN Jr. High vs Dexter 7^th/8^th (EC3)

5:15 p.m.

Murphysboro vs Crystal City (EC1)

Hoxie vs Puxico (EC2)

Poplar Bluff 8^th vs South Pemiscot MS (EC3)

6:00 p.m.

Dexter (B) vs Meadow Heights (EC1)

Mayhem vs Kennett (EC2)

Northview, TN Jr High vs Kennett 8^th (EC3)

6:45 p.m.

Dexter 7^th/8^th vs South Pemiscot MS (EC1)

Springfield, Missouri - The MSHSAA State Boys Class 1 Singles/Doubles Tennis Tournament will be held at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield, Missouri on Friday, May 29th and Saturday, May 30th.

Ethan Flowers and Noah Kronk (District 1) will play at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, May 29th at the 2015 MSHSAA State Championship Tournament against Osage's Jordan Wilson and Adam Schoening (District 8). This will the first match round of state doubles.

Notre Dame's Boswell and Stroup also District 1 drew John Burroughs' Remisa nd Rodgers from District 2.

Pending the outcome of their match, Flowers and Kronk will either play Greenwood (District 10) or Knob Noster (District 12).

Good luck Bearcats!

St. Louis, Missouri – Dexter Bearcats MaKayla Waldner and Madelyn Webb are state bound in track after finishing in top spots at the sectional track meet at Lutheran South High School in St. Louis.

MaKayla Waldner is a junior at Dexter High School and will compete in four events.  She qualified for state in the 100-metter hurdles, 200-meter dash, 300-meter hurdles and the long jump. 

Waldner finished first in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.23, second in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.86, first in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 43.73 and she placed third in long jump at 17-05.

Madelyn Webb, a freshman at Dexter High School, finished second in shot put.  She recorded a distance of 31-08 ¾.

Both athletes will compete at the 2015 Class 3 State Track Tournament on Friday, May 29^th and Saturday, May 30^th at Dwight Reed Stadium on the campus of Lincoln University in Jefferson City.